ArtSlut

Is Carlos Mencia the Donald Trump of Stand-up Comedy?

Carlos Mencia is the Donald Trump of stand-up comedy — his base absolutely loves him (he sold out all his VIP tickets for these shows), and everyone else thinks he’s the worst thing to happen to the industry (Bill Cosby not included). Over the last few years, the Current has spoken to Mencia whenever he rolls into town (at least once a year), and every year we hope our write-up on the comedian doesn’t have to include anything about the joke-stealing allegations lobbed at him in 2005. As a journalist, it just gets tedious writing about it after 12 years. But will non-fans ever think of Mencia and not immediately connect him to his past indiscretions? Probably not. Like the Russian collusion suffocating Trump, the cloud is still thick around him. When asked for a single word to describe Mencia, a quick, unscientific poll of 10 people on Facebook came up with “thief” five times, “hack” three times and a single vote for “menso” and “pendejo.” One prominent San Antonio stand-up comedian even went as far as saying Mencia “is the only comedian [he] would refuse to open for.” It’s a harsh reality Mencia seems to have accepted, but one he and his supporters couldn’t give a shit about. USA! USA!